Combined parking guide and visual indicator for vehicle headlights



Patented Mar. 23, 1954 COMBINED PARKING GUIDE AND VISUAL INDICATOR FOR VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS Ben Nitzberg, Miami Beach, Fla.

Application July 19, 1952, Serial No. 299,850

4 Claims.

formed of transparent or translucent material in various colors or color combinations whereby the entire attachment is illuminated at night to provide, in addition to the luminous parking guide, an extremely ornamental device.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a device that is extremely simple in construction, is strong, is durable, easy to attach and is extremely cheap to manufacture.

The novel features of construction and operation will be more readily understood by reference to the following specification, coupled with the accompanying drawings wherein has been illustrated a preferred form of the device and wherein like characters of reference are employed to denotelike parts throughout.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a vehicle headlight showing the device applied thereto,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device prior to its attachment to the headlight, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section through a portion of the headlight showing the invention attached thereto.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates any conventional housing for the support of a headlight unit 6 of the conventional recognized sealed beam type. The unit 6 is supported in the usual manner against displacement by a ring 1. An outer ring 8 overlies the ring 1 and is attached to the housing 5 in the usual manner.

The device of this invention comprises a relatively wide cylindrical band 9, preferably formed of transparent or translucent plastic. The band 9 has a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the ring 1 and in use rests thereagainst. The band 9 at its top central portion is apertured at I0 for the reception of a cylindrical elongated rod II. The rod ll extends inwardly of the band 9 and has its lower terminal end beveled on an angle to 45 degrees. The inwardly extending portion of the rod ll terminates in a position to lie within light rays from the unit 6. The rod II is limited in its inward movement by preferably integral collar I2. The collar 12 is cemented to the outer surface of the band 9 to thus rigidly position the rod in a vertical position with respect to the band. The upper end of the rod II is provided with a preferably integral spherical head [3. The rod H, collar l2 and head I3 are formed of transparent or translucent plastic. The lower beveled end of the rod I I may be silvered if desired as a means for bending the light rays upwardly through the rod II to cause the rod and its head to glow when the device is used at night. The device may be formed in various colors or color combinations to provide an attractive ornamental attachment that serves not only as an aid in parking the vehicle but will present a visual signal to drivers of vehicles approaching at a right angle. The length of the rod l I is such as to extend above the headlight a sufficient distance to be clearly visible to the driver at all times.

At equidistantly spaced points the band 9 is provided with attaching wires [4 riveted at one end to the band as at l5 and serve as a means for easily connecting the attachment to the headlight structure.

In the use of the device the ring 8 is removed from the body 5 and the ring 1 either removed or loosened sufliciently to permit the wires M to engage therebehind with their terminal ends bent over the annular circumference of the ring 1. The ring 1 is then reseated and the ring 8 replaced, thus securely binding the band 9 and its rod ll rigidly in position against the outer face of the ring 1. Three wires [4 have been illustrated although it will be apparent that a greater number may be employed or flat bendable strips may be substituted for the wires l4. It will thus be apparent that the entire device presents an ornamental attachment with the rod ll being visible at all times. When used at night the light rays from the unit 6 will illuminate the band 9 with certain of the light rays striking the beveled end of the rod H to be directed vertically for illuminating the rod and its head I 3.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a very novel and ornamental device has been provided as an attachment for the conventional vehicle headlights. The device offers no obstruction to the conventional use of the headlight and is easily and quickly attachable without in any way disturbing the structure of the headlight. The device offers a safety guide and visual signal.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown, but that changes may be made as readily fall within the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a vehicle headlight including a light unit supported within a housing, a retaining ring for the support of the light unit in the housing, a visual guide and signal device to be supported in front of the light unit and comprising a cylindrical band of transparent material having a diameter substantially co-extensive with the light unit, means for rigidly supporting the band in contacting relation to the retaining ring, a vertically disposed elongated light conducting member carried by the ring and having a, height to lie within the range of vision of a driver of a vehicle, the light conducting member extending into a beam of light from the light unit and beveled to bend the beam of light at a right angle to illuminate the light conducting member.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the band is formed relatively wide and extends forwardly of the light unit concentrically thereof, the band being co-extensive with the circumference of the light unit, the band and light conducting member formed of light diffusing material to be illuminated by light rays from the light unit.

3. In combination with a vehicle headlight including a housing and a sealed source of light within the housing, a retaining ring for rigidly supporting the light source within the housing, a visual signal and parking guide supported forwardly of the light source, comprising a wide cylindrical transparent band of light diffusing material that has a diameter and circumference substantially co-extensive with the forward part of the headlight, attaching means carried by the band to engage the retaining ring for supporting the band in concentric relation to the light source, an elongated cylindrical rod of light diffusing material that is carried by the band at its top to be vertically disposed, the rod extending through the band an having its lower end terminating within a beam of light from the light source, the lower end of the rod being beveled to bend light rays on a ninety degree angle to be projected upwardly for illuminating the rod, the rod having a height to lie within the range of vision of a driver of a vehicle, the band projecting forwardly of the retaining ring to be illuminated by light rays from the source of light to form a visual signal to drivers of vehicles approaching from the side.

4. In combination with a vehicle and vehicle headlight including a sealed source of illumination and a housing therefor, a retaining ring to rigidly support the source of illumination within the housing, a combined visual signal and parking guide that comprises a cylindrical transparent band of light diffusing material that has a diameter and circumference substantially coextensive with the diameter of the forward part of the headlight, the band being formed relatively wide and arranged to extend forwardly of the source of light concentric thereto, equidistantly spaced bendable wires secured to the band and adapted to be bent around the retaining ring to support one circumferential edge of the band in contact with the retaining ring, the band provided with a cylindrical aperture at its top central portion, an elongated cylindrical visual parking guide formed of light diffusing material adapted to be disposed through the aperture with its lower end projecting inwardly of the band to terminate within a beam of light from the light source, the lower end of the rod being beveled inwardly and downwardly at an angle of fortyfive degrees, a collar formed on the rod to limit its extension inwardly of the band, the rod and collar being cemented to the band, the rod being vertically arranged and having a height to lie within the range of vision of a driver of the vehicle, the angular lower end of the rod bending light rays from the source of light upwardly and axially of the rod to illuminate the rod, the width of the band being such as to lie within the arc of illumination by the light of the light source whereby the band is illuminated as a visual signal to drivers of vehicles approaching from the side.

BEN NITZBERG.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS I Number Name Date 1,457,426 Cameron June -5, 1923 2,481,321 Marcinik Sept. 6, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 402,952 Great Britain Dec. 14, 1933 

